fitz power



Feb. 10, 1.931. R. FITZ POWER 1,792,395

DEVICE FOR OPERATING LOOSE LEAF BINDERS,

BOOKS, CARD TRAYS, AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 25. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNl/ENTOA FEPOVEK 'ATTOlP/VEY Feb. 10, 1931. R. FITZ POWER 1,792,395

DE PERATING LOOSE E VICE FOR 0 L AF BINDLRS, BOOKS, CARD TRAYS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct, 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvrwrom mnpowm.

Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE p RICHARD FITZ POWER, OF HAMPS'IEAD, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNQR TO MORLAND '85 IMPEY LIMITED, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND DEVICE roaornnarnve LoosE-LmrfmnnERs, ooKs, ai TRAYS, ANDTHE LIKE Application filed October 25, 1928, Serial No. 314,970, and in Great Britain Deoember 24, 1827.

This invention relates to mechanical devices for operatingloose leaf books orbinders, card trays, or the like, and has especial reference to the operation ofthe binders de- 5 scribed in U. S; A.'Patent No. 1,790,441, Jan-V uary 27, 1931, for the purpose of releasing and resecuring leaves contained in the binder.

.20 cut specification No. 1,677,461,- July 17, 1928,

in which the binder was placed when required to be operated for removal, or replacement, of the leaves, such device'including a handle controlling abutment plates which served to perform the simultaneous operation of opening the binding platesand displacing the anchoring members necessary to release the leaves.

In the case of large binders, and large leaves, or of cards in trays, itwas tound rather difficult toreassemble or to nsert leaves, as some were apt to slide over the mechanism, or to bulge, so that a new leaf or leaves might not be properly placed on the anchoring bars, or tray bottom, wh ch led .to

the cards or sheets being liable to be bent or spoiled. i

The present invention has for its ob ect to provide for the'ready insert1on of the leaves in the binder, tray, or-the like, and to ensure ously to, prevent their collapse or sliding over i for the'operation of card trays, or of loose leaf binders of other character, for the ,purpose of simplifying the following descrip I tion the device will be hereinafter described tor more 'part1cular application to looseleaf binders oi the character in question, that is,

as described in U. S. A. Patent No. 1,790,441, January 27, 1931, wherein the binding is effected by expanding anchoring members into recesses in the sheets and contracting binding members to draw the sheets tightly together.

According to one embodiment the leat-sup- I porting means comprise plates positioned so as to lie transversely below the recessed edges of the leaves of the binder when the latter is mounted in the operating device, these plates being connected with the operating mechanism of the device in such manner that on the abutment plates engaging the anchoring members and releasing the leaves, a vertical movement is given to thesupporting plates so that their upper faces, each formed as a serrated plate or platform, rise into abutment with the lower edges of the leaves, and thus retain them in the position required; the rated surfaces mentioned are provided in order toensure that the edges of the sheets shall not slip on the rising plates, and so that they remain in position and do not slide, and are thus in correct alignment when the device is operated to resecure the leaves in the binder.

The invention will be further described with referenceto the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example one mode or embodying the invention, and in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a plan view'ot the release stand constructed according to U. S. A. patent specification No. 1,677,461, and embodying leaf-supporting means according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sect-ion on the line II-II of Fig. 1 illustrating the disposition'of the leaves of a binder in regard to the leaf-supporting means, on the binder being positioned in the stand for the purpose of releasing the leaves;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line IHIII of Fig. 2 looking from the right, showing the arrangement of the leat-supportine means, and in dot-and-pick lines the position occupied thereby on release of the leaves from the binding mechanism, and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views illustrating the manner in which the release mecha nism is adapted to automatically ctlect movement of the leaf-supporting means and the serrated surface provided on the in per ace of the leaf-supporting means for the purpose of ensuring correct alignment of the leaves on operation of the device to reposition the leaves in the binde Fig. 4; eing a sectional view of the leaf-supporting means and associated release mechanism; 5 a. perspective view of the underside of the leat-supporting means; and Fig. 3 a perspective of the upper operative face of the leai"-s=.ipporting means illustrating serrated upper surface.

Referring now to the drawings, but first more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 1 represents a release stand adapted for operation on binders such as described in U. S. A. Patent No. 1.79am, January 27, 1931. comprising anchoring members adapted under spring pressure to occupy the undercut ends of re cesses provided on one edge of the leaves togcthcr with binding plates gripping the leaves, also under spring pre in a direction at right-angles to their plane.

The release stand includes an ope ating handle 2 controlling abutment plates S}, an,v 5 and 6 respectively, the abutment pla and d outwardly engaging anchoring members of the binder and moving inw and the abutment plates 5 and G iawai ll gaging the binding plates and simultaneously moving outwardly to effect release of we leaves, such as 7, positioned on the binder.

Guide walls 8 and 9 are provided on the re lease stand which serve to ensure t l binder placed on the release stand 1 will 4 cupy the poistion in which the abutment plates 2'}, l, and 6 respectively engaged t anchoring 110 members and binding plates of the hinder.

Reciprocation of th. abutment plates 3, l, and 5, 6 is obtained from the handle 2 in the manner described in U. S. A. patent specifica tion l lo. 1,677,461, operation of the handle serving to rotate a disc 10 coupled to the said abutment plates by means of a system of links, movement of the handle in one direction clfccting movement of the abutment plates 3. 4t and 5, 6 such as will release leaves such as T secured by a. binder positioned on the release stand 1, and movement of the handle 2 in the opposite direction eilpci g sucn a movement of the abutment pl: will permit the binder to assume a pension of resecurement for the leaves.

The abutment plates 3 and are mounted on guides 11 and 12 sliding in uitable beds or bearings 3 and 14-, and {l abutment plates 5 and 6 have guide members 15 and 1(3 likewise running in beds or bearings 17 and 18, such beds or bearings being suitably mounted in the frame of the release stand 1, preferably on an aluminium subframe 19 suitably mounted in the stand 1, the body of which is preferably of mahogany or other polished hard wood.

The leaf-supporting means according to the present invention are constituted in the example illustrated by horizontally disposed plates 20 and 21 adapted to reciprocate vertically in the beds or bearings 13, 14, which for this purpose are each provided with a vertical recess or guide 22 and 23 respectively, and blocks or plungers 24 and 25, on which the leaf-supporting plates 20, 21 are respectively mounted, slide in said recesses or guides 22, 23, so that the leaf-supporting plates 20 and 21 are permitted vertical movement but are free from any tendency to rock laterally.

Each block or plunger 24, 25, is provided with a cam slot 26, and the abutment plate guides 11 and 12 which pass horizontally through the bearings 13 and 14: are provided with pins 27, 28, engaging said cam slots 26 and are arranged on inward movement of the abutment plates 3 and l at the instance of the handle 2 for the purpose of releasing the leaves secured on a binder mounted in the release stand 1, to raise the leaf-supporting plates 20, 21, to a position in which they support the leaves such as 7 of the binder, retention of correct alignment in the leaves being enhanced by reason of the upper surfaces of the supporting plates 20, 21 being provided with transverse serrations 29 which engage the lower edges of the leaves.

To ensure that the leaves are free to be supported by the plates 20, 21, on these be ing elevated to supporting position, the cam slots 26 are shown arranged with a horizontal portion 30, the initial movement of the abutment plates 3, 4 and 5, 6, thereby occurring before any elevation is imparted to the leaf-supporting plates 20, 21, whereby the anchoring members and binding plates of the binder on which the said abutment plates 0perate have achieved the necessary preliminary movement to release the leaves, the pins 27 and 28 then acting on the inclined faces of the slots 26 of the guide blocks 24, 25, and etfecting the desired elevatory movement of the leatsupporting plates 20 and 21 into their leaf-supporting position.

The normal or out-ot-use position of the stand 1 is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the leafsupporting plates 20 and 21 in this position lying at the bottom of their travel, and when it is required to operate the binder for the purpose of releasing the leaves thereof, such binder is placed in the release stand 1 and is releasing the leaves of the binder, further guided into its correct operative position by.

to-be-drawnanchoring'membersof the binder, and the other abutment plates 5 andG "in inward engagement with "the outwardly-tobe-m'oved binding plates; I 3

The operating handle 2 is then moved in the direction of the arrow in .Fig. l, and, due to the pins 27 28, moving'in the horizontal portion 30 of the slots 26, a preliminary movement of the abutment plates is eflected movement of the handle 2 being required to cause the pins 27 28, to engage the cam portion 26 of the slots, Whereat the leaf-supporting plates 20, 21 are elevated into the desired position of support for the released leaves 7 of the binder; Leaves'can then be removed or replaced, or leaves already on'the binder repositioned at the will of the operator, and this operation is enhanced by the serrated uppersurfaces 29 of the supporting plates 20, 21, which further prevent unwanted displacement of the leaves 7.

On the desired repositioning being obtained, the operator returns thehandle 2 to normal position and the reverse operation takes place in the respective parts, preliminary movement of the handle 2 on the return leaf-supporting plates 20, 21, so that the leaves 7 drop into their desired position on the anchoring members of the binder which are moving outwardly, complete outward movement of the anchoring members being accompanied by simultaneous inward move,- ment of the binding plates such that on the handle 2 of the release stand 1 being returned to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the desired resecurement of the leaves 7 within the binder is accomplished.

As an alternative arrangement spring-controlled plates can be operated by suitable mechanism to rise when the springs are released, for. example, to correspond with the required release movement of the operating handle.

It will be understood that although the invention has been described with more especial reference to devices for the mechanical operation of binders including anchoring members and binding plates, that is substantially in accordance with U. S. A. Patent No. 1,790,441, January 27 1931, the invention is also applicable to devices for the mechanical operation of binders of other character.

lVhat I claim is: V

1. A device for mechanically operating loose leaf holding apparatus comprising leafsupporting means associated with the leafrelease mechanism of the device,'normally out of leaf-supporting position and operable automatically from theleaf release mechalease of the leaves to assumea device-to causej'said tron of leaf supporton'release of the leaves in the binder. T

nism on release of the leavesin'the binder to assume position of leaf support.

2. A device for mechanically operating loose leaf binders, comprising a pair ofhori 'zon'tal platesass ciated with the leaf release vertically by the release mechanism on reposition of support for the leaves.

8.A- device for mechanically operating loose leaf binders, comprising a pair of horimechanism of the device and reciprocable zon'tal plates, guide blocks having cam slots connected to each of said plates,*'a' nd pins on the leaf-release mechanismof said devlce enag-in said slots and o erable automatical- 3:! e5 E! ly by tl1e'leaf-release mechanism on release ofthe leavesto move said plates to a position of'sup'port for the leaves, i

4. A device for mechanically operating loose leaf bindersfcomprising a pair of hori- 'Zontail "plates," guide blocks having cam slots connected to each of said plates, reciprocable vertically in regard to said device, and pins on the leaf-release mechanism of said device engaging said slot-sand adapted on release of the leaves to simultaneously elevate said plates to a positionof leaf support;v

5QA device for mechanically operating loose leaf binders comprising a pair of horizontal plates having serrated upper surfaces, and means for operatively connecting said stroke effectlng downward-movement of the plates with the leaf-release mechanism of the plates to assume" a posif 6. A device for" mechanically operating loose leaf binders comprising a pair of hori- -,zon'tal plates having serrated upper surfaces,

a' guideblock having a cam slot on the underside of each plate, and pins on the leaf-release mechanism of said device engaging said slots and operating said blocks automatically 011 release of the leaves to elevate said plates to a position'of support for the leaves.

7. A device for mechanically operating loose leaf binders in which the leaves are secured by anchoring members adapted to occupy undercut ends of recesses in the leaves, under spring pressure, comprising a pair of leaf-supporting plates'nssociated with the leaf-release mechanism of the device and operable automatically from the leaf-release mechanism on'releaseof the leaves by withdrawal of the anchoring members, to assume aposition of support forthe released leaves.

' 8. 'A device for mechanically operating loose leaf binders in which the leaves are secured by anchoring members adapted to co cupy undercut ends of recesses in the leaves under spring pressure, comprising a pair. of

horizontal plates associated with the 'leafrelease mechanism of the device, uide blocks connected to each'of said plates slots, and pins'on said mechanism engaging aving cam said slots and adapted on release of the leaves by said release mechanism by Withdrawal of the anchoring members to elevate said plates to a position of leaf support.

9. A device for mechanically operating loose leaf binders in which the leaves are secured by anchoring members adapted to occupy undercut ends of recesses in the leaves under spring pressure, comprising abutment plates adapted to outwardly engage the anchoring members of the binder, guide members for said abutment plates, and pins on said guide members, a pair of leaf-supporting plates, guide blocks on said leaf-supporting plates having cam slots, engaged by said pins and operable upon said abutment plates engaging said anchoring members to release the leaves, to elevate said leaf-supporting plates to a position of support for the leaves.

10. A device for mechanically operating loose leaf binders in which the leaves are secured by anchoring members adapted to occupy undercut ends of recesses in the leaves under spring pressure, comprising a frame adapted for the receipt of a loose leaf binder, abutment plates adapted to outwardly engage the anchoring members of the binder, guide members for said abutment plates and pins on said guide members, a p air of leaf-supporting plates, guide blocks on said leaf-supporting plates, having cam slots engaged by said pins. an operating handle linked to said abutment plates causing them to engage the anchoring members of the binder and releasethe leaves, and simultaneously to effect elevation of said leaf-supporting plates to'a'position of support for the leaves.

11. A device for mechanically operating loose leaf binders in which the leaves are secured by anchoring members adapted to occupy undercut ends of recesses in the leaves under spring pressure, comprising abutment plates adapted to outwardly engage the anchoring members of the binder, guide members for said abutment plates, and pins on said guide members, a pair of leaf-supporting plates with serrated upper surfaces, guide blocks on the lower surfaces of said leafsupporting plates, having cam slots engaged by said pins, and operable upon said abutment plates engaging said anchoring members to release the leaves, to elevate said leaf-supporting plates to a position of support for the leaves.

12. A device for mechanically operating loose leaf binders in which the leaves are secured by anchoring members adapted to occupy undercut ends of recesses in the leaves under spring pressure with spring-pressed binding plates gripping the leaves at rightangles to their plane, comprising abutment plates arranged to simultaneously engage said anchoring members and said binding plates, and thereby to release the leaves, guide mechanism for said abutment plates, leaf supporting plates connected with the guide mechanism of said anchoring members in such manner as to assume a position of sup port for the leaves on movement of said plates to release the leaves from the anchoring members.

, In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RICHARD FITZ POWER. 

